Al-Shabab in Somalia bans three sided pastry! July 27, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, gulf of aden, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, security, somali pirates, Somalia
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Al-Shabab, a powerful muslim extremist group, which controls roughly one third of the entire country, banned a three sided pastry because it may remind people of the Christian Holy Trinity.
Al-Shabab recently boarded trucks with loud speakers and announced that the popular pastry often filled with meat and vegetables was banned. The ban comes at a time when the U.N. estimates that 11 million people are being affected by the worst drought in decades.
Somalia’s prolonged drought became a famine in part because the Somali government nor many aid agencies can fully operate in many areas controlled by Al-Qaeda linked militants, and the U.N. is set to declare all of southern Somalia a famine zone as of Aug. 1.
Pirates new tactics! July 26, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, somali pirates, Somalia
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On July 25, 2011 MSC(HOA) reported that a merchant vessel was under attack at 2109Z (a night time attack) again in the southern Red Sea, 55 nm NW of Bab-el-Mandeb and 20 nm east of the attacks on the F Blue and Front Pride.
The vessel was attacked by no less than four skiffs who were firing at the vessel from all directions.
The industry needs to understand that attacks at night will now become normal as ransoms afford pirates better equipment such as night vision technology, easily purchased on the black market. This year alone we’ve seen attacks in the Red Sea and vessels being hijacked during monsoon season; all first time occurrences.
Shipping companies should carefully consider hiring companies that purport less numbers of security team members can do more, or a few weapons of any sort will scare the pirates away. Their attacks will become more brazen and sophisticated over time.
U.S. State Department Insists on Guards on U.S. Vessels July 26, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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As stated on Lloyd’s List, senior US officials have told Hong Kong ship owners that the US now insists that all US flagged vessels carry armed security personnel to defend against pirate attacks. This is the latest sign that the international approval of armed guards is becoming the norm.
6 Sailors Trapped on MV Iceberg; Indian Government Refuses Ransom Demand July 24, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, gulf of aden, InfoSec, Maritime Security, security, Somalia
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Six Indian sailors are trapped aboard the MV Iceberg after the Indian government has refused to pay ransom to the Somali pirates. Third Officer Jaswinder, who has called his family 8 times in an attempt to get Ransom, described how he and 2 other sailers were tortured by the pirates and one crew member had been killed. The MV Iceberg was hijacked in March, 2010 by a reported 50 pirates. Nearly 500 days later, she and her crew are still held captive. Prior to the ransom demand being rejected by the Indian Government, the demand was rejected by the ship’s owners. The crew is in desperate need of help. This should be a wake up call for those companies willing to roll the proverbial dice with their security. While stories of ransoms being paid and sailors returning home warm the heart, there are still dozens of ships and hundreds of sailors enduring terrible conditions, and brutal treatment at the hands of pirates. Once a ship is captured the pirates have the negotiating power. Professionally trained, and experienced armed guards are the best defense against piracy.
NATO rejects plea for extra counter-piracy ships! July 22, 2011
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Armed escort, armed security, gulf of aden, gulf of aden security, InfoSec, Maritime Security, NATO, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, Somalia
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NATO has turned down a plea from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to deploy extra warships to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Currently there are approximately 20 vessels patrolling the entire Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf comprised of several nations warships. This area is approximately 2.5 million square miles, a daunting task given the limited resources.
With ships being diverted to Libya and massive cutbacks in navies’ budgets worldwide, the International Shipping community should take pro-active steps to protect its own interests and not rely solely on foreign navies’ limited protection.
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